Failure to Disinfect Blood Pressure Monitor Between Resident Uses
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow infection prevention and control practices when a blood pressure monitor was not disinfected according to the manufacturer's instructions after use during medication pass observations. On multiple occasions, a licensed nurse used the same blood pressure monitor to measure the blood pressure of different residents in their rooms and then placed the device back on the medication cart without cleaning or disinfecting it between uses. This practice was observed with several residents during the medication pass. During interviews, the licensed nurse acknowledged that the blood pressure monitor and cuffs were not cleaned or sanitized between residents, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the equipment should be disinfected between each use to reduce infection risk. Review of the facility's policy and the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations indicated that both the monitor and cuff should be cleaned with a soft, moistened cloth and mild detergent after each use to maintain hygiene. The failure to adhere to these procedures constituted a breach of infection control protocols.